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Community-Engaged Research

Community-engaged research meets the needs of the community by involving those who have a stake in improving health. This can include communities and their members, patients, clinicians, researchers, purchasers, payers, industry, hospitals and health systems, training institutions, and policy makers.

The Clinical and Translational Science Institute works with Penn State researchers and the community to:

provide assistance with the engagement of community and multi-disciplinary research teams in strategic partnerships that translate research into policy and practice

ensure communities have the capacity to participate as full partners in the research process, are consulted for their research priorities, respected, valued and rewarded for collaborative activities

ensure understanding of and strong support for research and ultimately the enhanced health of individuals and communities across their lifespan

Researchers interested in more information, or help in setting up a research project in the community, as well as stakeholders and communities interested in more information on working with the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, should email engage@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

The Community-Engaged Research Team provides community-centered translational science infrastructure that builds upon the existing community engagement taking place at Penn State. The team establishes and nurtures relationships with people, organizations and researchers through transparency, utmost ethical conduct and demonstrated commitment to the common good.

Team Members

About Penn State Clinical and Translational Science InstituteExpand answer

Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute accelerates discoveries to benefit human health. It is a bridge between basic scientists and clinical researchers and promotes collaboration to discover new treatments, medical procedures and ways to diagnose disease. It helps the Penn State community move its health research more efficiently and effectively out of the science laboratories and into use by the people who need it.

The Institute was established in 2007 and is a member of the National Institutes of Health Clinical and Translational Science Award Network (Grant: UL1 TR002014). It is one of three network members in Pennsylvania and focuses on the health needs of the rural communities that surround Penn State and its academic health system, Penn State Health.

It accomplishes its mission by providing research tools, advanced biostatistical expertise, funding programs for exploration of unique ideas and through a dedicated team for including the community more effectively into research. The Institute also trains the next generation of translational and clinical scientists.

The Institute works with researchers and the community to provide new solutions that will improve the process of turning observations in a lab, clinic or community into methods that improve the health of the citizens of Pennsylvania.

With locations at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey and the College of Health and Human Development at University Park, the Institute develops community partnerships to promote health, reduce the gaps and improve the delivery of care across the state.